Combination desk and cabinet rack structure



Oct. 19, 1965 6. w. FAUROT 3,212,748

COMBINATION DESK AND CABINET RACK STRUCTURE Filed July 5, 1963 so I n II F 1 63 6'4 62 i i i I 7 l 41 {I I l I Pg 5 H I2 l8 (I MI V I 13 II HI[0 FIG'3 l8 l6 l2 INVENTOR GEORGE WESLEY FAUROT \\Y/ i; W) XY/W/AATTORNEY United States Patent 3,212,748 CGMBINATION DESK AND CABINETRACK STRUCTURE George Wesley Faurot, Falls Church, Va. (630 Rosita Ave.,Los Altos, Calif.) Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,051 3 Claims. ((31.248-458) The present invention relates to improvements in articles offurniture, and more particularly to a portable combination desk andcabinet structure.

One object is to provide a portable combination structure of theabove-mentioned type which is compact and is adapted to be employed as adesk for supporting books, papers and the like as well as for storingbooks and other objects.

Another object is to provide a portable combination desk and cabinetstructure in which the desk can be moved to various positions forsupporting books and papers while the user reclines in a comfortablechair or relaxes in bed.

Another object is to provide a portable compact desk and cabinetstructure is which the desk can be adjusted to various predeterminedpositions of elevation to facilitate use of the desk while reclining ina chair or otherwise assuming a relaxed position.

Another object is to provide a portable desk structure supported from asingle standard on a pair of horizontally swinging arms which permitsthe desk to be adjusted to various positions with little effort upon thepart of the user.

Another object is to provide a portable combination cabinet and deskstructure having a desk member which is hinged to swing on a horizontalaxis, thereby permitting the desk surface to be adjusted to variousangular positions.

Another object is to provide a combination cabinet and desk structure ofthe above-mentioned type in which other devices can be adjustablysupported on the vertical standard such as paper and pencil racks,illuminating means and various other devices.

Another object is to provide a novel hinge connection between thehorizontal swinging arms, as well as the desk supporting structure topermit free swinging movement of the desk to various positions in ahorizontal plane.

Another object is to provide a combination cabinet and desk structurewhich can be attached to the wall and supported thereon by suitableshelf members forming rack type supports for various objects.

Another object is to provide a combination desk and cabinet structure inwhich a storage rack or the like is adjustably supported on the upperend of the single standard and is provided with a hinged member having apencil receiving trough for receiving various objects and in additionsaid rack-like support is provided with a series of longitudinallyspaced U-shaped division members formed of wire adapted to separate theupper rack member into a series of separate compartments for books,papers and various other objects.

Another object is to provide a single standard type cabinet structureand desk with illuminating means adjustably mounted on the singlestandard above the desk portion of the structure so that saidilluminating means can be adjusted to various elevations toward and awayfrom the desk surface.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of the combination cabinet and deskstructure showing a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the mannerin which the horizontally swinging desk is rotatably supported by the3,212,748 Patented Oct. 19, was

ice

single standard and illustrating the illuminating means attached to aseparate horizontally swinging arm.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the combination cabinet and deskstructure illustrating the general arrangement of the various elements.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the combination cabinet and deskstructure illustrating the manner in which the various devices such asthe desk, illuminating means and cabinet structure are adjustablysupported on the single standard or upright.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a single standard mounted on awall for supporting various cabinet structures and the like, as well asthe horizontally swinging and adjustable desk member.

FIG. 4a is a top elevation of a single standard for wall mounting.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line5-5 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustratethe pivotal hearing connection between one of the horizontally swingingarms and the desk per se.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and taken online 66 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to illustratethe bearing structure for the horizontally swinging arms of the desk andilluminating support.

In the drawing, and more in detail, attention is first directed toFIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive wherein the reference character 5 willgenerally be employed to designate a base member to which is attached asingle upstanding shaft or pedestal generally designated 6. The deskstructure is mounted on the standard 6 and is generally designated 7.Mounted on the upper end of the standard 6 is an illuminating element 8also generally designated, and a storage chamber or cabinet isadjustably mounted on the vertical standard 6 above the desk andilluminating means and is generally designated 9.

The base or pedestal support 5 is of general rectangular shape andincludes a platform 10 supported by caster wheels 11 mounted on swivelbrackets 12 arranged at each corner of the rectangular platform 10;Secured to the upper surface of the platform adjacent the rear edgethereof is a plate 13 having a series of upstanding parallel spacedplates 14 which are secured to the plate 13 and are held in spaced apartrelation by two or more brass rods 15 which extend through alignedopenings in the division plates 14 and are arranged adjacent the endsthereof (FIGURE 2).

The pedestal or vertical standard 6 is formed of a tubular section ofmetal or the like and has its lower end supported in a suitable socket18 formed in the rectangular platform 10. The socket 18 is provided witha metal liner to provide a metal to metal fit between the pedestal orstandard 6 and the platform 10. Any approved fastening means is providedfor securely anchoring the lower end of the standard 6 in place andagainst removal.

Rotatably mounted on the vertical support or standard 6 is a horizontalarm 20 (FIGURE 6) and said arm is provided with an oversized bore 21having a bearing sleeve 22 fitted therein and provided with an internalbore of a diameter to receive the vertical standard 6. The arm 20 isadapted to be adjusted to any desired position or elevation from thefloor by inserting a pin 23 through a preselected opening in thestandard 6. The standard 6 is provided with a series of verticallyspaced openings 24 (FIGURE 3) to permit the pin 23 to be inserted ind-iametral aligned bores in the tubular standard 17. Thus, the arm 20can be adjusted to any desired elevation by inserting the pin 23 in oneof the series of aligned apertures 24 beneath the arm 20 in the verticalstandard.

Pivotally attached to the end of the arm is an arm by means of a bolt orthe like as at 26. The bolt or machine screw 26 extends through suitablebearing openings in the overlapped ends of the arms 20 and 25 and a wingnut or similar fastener'element 27 is threaded on said bolt or machinescrew to permit pivotal movement of said arm about theaxis of the bolt26. The end portions of the pivoted arms 20 and 25 are curved as at 28and 29 to present a finished appearance.

The free swinging end of the arm 25 is provided with a rectangular desksupport 30 and said desk support is pivoted to the free end of the arm25 by means of a bearing structure shown in FIGURE 5. The bearingstructure is received in a recess 31 in the free end of the arm 25 and acorrespondingly shaped recess 32 in the desk supporting arm 30. As shownin the drawing a cylindrical sleeve bearing 33 is mounted in the recess31 and a suitable pin bearing structure (not shown) is mounted in thecavity formed by the recesses 31 and 32. A pivot bolt 35 extends throughaligned openings 36 and 37 in the arm 25 and support 30, and one end ofsaid bolt is provided with a head 38 while the other end is threaded asat 39 for receiving a wing nut 40. Thus, the wing nut 40 can betightened or loosened to position the desk support 30 in any desiredposition in a manner similar to that described in connection with thepivot bolt 26. The pivot bearing 26 is similar in construction to thatdescribed in FIGURE 5 for the pivot connection between the arm 25 andthe desk support 30. However, a description of one will suffice forboth.

Hingedly connected to the desk support 30 is a desk top 41 ofrectangular shape to provide a substantially flat writing and supportingsurface 42. The hinge connection 43 includes a pair of spaced hingemembers with their leaves 44 attached to the underside of the desk 41and to the side edge of the desk support 30 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5.The leaves are connected by a suitable pintle pin in the usual fashion(not shown).

The lower edge of the desk 41 is provided with a longitudinal strip 45adapted to form a stop or abutment for papers and the like supported onthe desk when the desk 41 is tilted to an oblique position. A suitablehinge structure 46 is provided for pivotally connecting the stop 45 tothe desk 41. Thus, the desk 41 can be positioned at an incline as shownin FIGURE 5 and retained in position by the friction hinges 43 forsupporting papers and books while the portable desk is being used forwriting or reading purposes. If desired, a suitable arcuate latch barcan be attached to the rear of the desk 41 to engage a stop or latch onthe desk support 30. The latch bar being provided with a series ofnotches arranged in spaced relation to receive a pivoted detent mountedon the desk support 30 at either end thereof or both ends. When the desk41 is used as above at an inclined position as shown in FIGURE 5 thepivoted stop rail 45 assumes the position shown in full lines in FIGURE3 and the upper surface thereof is provided with a recess forming anelongated pencil trough 50. When the desk is positioned in a horizontalplane the stop rail 45 is hinged to its dotted line position in FIGURE 3to provide a continuous fiat table surface.

Also rotatably mounted on the vertical support or standard 17 is an arm51 mounted above the arm 20 and adapted to be held in position by meansof a pin 52 similar to the pin 23 shown in FIGURE 6 extending throughone of the apertures 24. The arm 51 supports the illuminating means 8which includes a short section of flexible cable housing 53 having oneend attached to an electrical socket 54 and its opposite end suitablyconnected to an electric lamp socket as at 55. An incandescent lamp 56is mounted in the socket 55 and the lamp shade 57 has its supportingframe (not shown) arranged to receive the lamp and be supported thereby.

The rack structure 9 is likewise mounted on the vertical standard 17 andsaid rack includes a rectangular base member 58 having an opening forreceiving the vertical standard 17. The base member 58 is provided withvertically extending end walls 59 connected by a back wall 60. Spacedfrom the rectangular base 58 is a similarly shaped horizontal divisionplate 61 which has its ends connected to the end Wall members 59 to forma space 62 for receiving various objects such as pencils, draftinginstruments and similar devices. Hingedly connected to the front edge ofthe base member 58 is a wall member 63 forming a door which is hinged asat 64 to the base member and is adapted to close the compartments 62between the base member 58 and the horizontal wall 61. One face of theclosure 63 is dished as at 65 to form a pencil trough and a flexiblemember 66 (FIG- URE 3) has one end connected to the closure 65 and theopposite end secured to a nail or the like (not shown). The flexiblemember 66 comprises a short section of link chain so that the free endcan be slipped over a stud or nail and retained in place in any selectedposition, as well as being held closed to prevent articles stored in thecompartment 62 from being displaced when the portable combination deskand cabinet structure is moved one location to another.

The horizontal member 61 is provided with a series of U-shaped wiredivision members 69 having their ends received in suitable openings toprovide a series of horizontally spaced division members for books,papers and the like.

The rectangular base member 58 and the horizontal member 61 are providedwith aligned bores for receiving the vertical standard 17 and saidcabinet structure 9 can be adjusted to any desired position and retainedin place by means of a pin 70 extending through a selected set ofapertures 24.

Thus, it will be seen that the desk 7 can be adjusted to any desiredelevation and inclination so that a student or the like can position thedesk within easy access while seated in a comfortable recliningposition, as for instance in an overstuffed living room chair, and itwill also be seen that the portable desk structure can be used as atable or the like while one is reclining in bed by merely moving thedesk 41 to a horizontal position in which the structure can be used as atable. Additionally, the illuminating means 8 can be adjusted as desiredabove the desk depending upon the position in which the desk is used,and that the cabinet structure 9 can be likewise adjusted to a properelevation so that the articles therein such as books, papers andpamphlets will be within easy reach of the user and accessible from areclining position.

In the modified or optional structure shown in FIG- URES 4 and 4a thevertical standard 17a is supported by wall brackets 72a and 73a. Thewall brackets are of angular construction and include foot members 74aand 75a respectively having horizontal arm portions 76a and 77a. Thearms of the bracket are braced by suitable brace members 78a and 79arespectively. The horizontal arm members 76a and 77a are thus arrangedin vertically spaced relation while the foot portions 74a and 75a aresecured to a vertical wall surface W by suitable fastener elements (notshown). Formed on. the lower and upper horizontal bracket portions 76aand 77a is a pair of opposed plug members 80a and 81a respectively. Theplug members are arranged in opposed relation and are adapted to receivethe ends of the tubular vertical standard 17a. Thus, the base member 10can be dispensed with and the vertical standard can be supported inspaced relation from a vertical wall surface with the desk structure 7,illuminating means 8 and cabinet structure 9 mounted on the tubularstandard 17a as before and described in connection with the form of theinvention shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 5 and 6. The

various elements are rotatably and adjustably supported on the verticalstandard 17a, and as before are held in an adjusted preselected positionby means of a suitable pin extending through and being seated in one ofa series of aligned apertures 82a.

In the optional form of the invention the desk 7, illuminating means 8and rack 9 can be swung to various horizontal positions and secured andadjusted so that the user can assume a sitting position in a comfortablechair and use the desk and cabinet structure as previously described.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 the basemember 10 has its front edge cut away as at 16 to provide space for theusers feet when the structure is used and positioned directly in frontof the chair in which the occupant is seated in a reclined position.

In the forms of the invention herewith shown and described, it is to beunderstood that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a combination desk and cabinet structure a rectangular basemember, castor wheels supporting said base member, a series of verticaldivision plates on said base member arranged in spaced relation to forma book rack and stabilize said desk and cabinet structure, a verticaltubular standard with its lower end connected centrally to said basemember and having a series of vertically spaced pin receiving aperturesextending from its lower portion to substantially the upper portionthereof, an arm rotatably mounted on said vertical stand ard to swing ina horizontal plane, a second arm having one end pivotally connected tothe free end of said first named arm to swing in a similar plane, theoverlapping ends of said arms being provided with enlarged recesses toaccommodate a bearing member, threaded fastener means extending throughsaid bearing member to releasably hold the same in an adjusted position,a horizontal bar pivoted intermediate its ends to the free end of thesecond named arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, threadedfastener means extending through said arm and bar to releasably hold thesame in an adjusted position, a pair of spaced hinged members afiixed tosaid horizontal bar located at points adjacent the ends thereof, a fiatrectangular member forming a desk supporting surface connected at therear thereof to said hinges, and a pin for being received in a Selectedpin receiving aperture in said vertical standard to selectively positionsaid arms of said desk supporting surface in different horizontalplanes, said pivoted arms and flat rectangular member being removablefrom the upper end of said vertical standard to permit book racks andthe like to be placed thereon beneath said pivoted arms and flatrectangular member.

2. In a combination desk and cabinet structure as set forth in claim 1in which said fiat rectangular member is provided with a pair of hingesarranged in spaced relation along the lower edge thereof, and anelongated pencil trough and paper stop secured to said hinges.

3. In a combination desk and cabinet structure as set forth in claim 1in which said book rack comprises a box-like structure having a centralopening in its lower wall for passage of said vertical standard, saidbox-like structure being open at the top and along one side and providedwith division members for holding books and the like.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,592 11/82Richards 248457 502,601 8/93 Anderson et a1 248457 1,257,586 2/18 Deming248457 1,666,803 4/28 Walker 248454 1,712,814 5/29 Dierks 2484572,354,998 8/44 KiKu 248454 3,023,063 2/62 Hansen 108-6 FRANK B. SHERRY,Primary Examiner.

1. IN A COMBINATION DESK AND CABINET STRUCTURE A RECTANGULAR BASEMEMBER, CASTOR WHEELS SUPPORTING SAID BASE MEMBER, A SERIES OF VERTICALDIVISION PLATES ON SAID BASE MEMBER ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATION TO FORMA BOOK RACK AND STABILIZE SAID DESK AND A CABINET STRUCTURE, A VERTICALTUBULAR STANDARD WITH ITS LOWER END CONNECTED CENTRALLY TO SAID BASEMEMBER AND HAVING A SERIES OF VERTICALLY SPACED PIN RECEIVED APERTURESEXTENDING FROM ITS LOWER PORTION TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE UPPER PORTIONTHEREOF, AN ARM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID VERTICAL STANDARD TO SWING INA HORIZONTAL PLANE, A SECOND ARM HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOTHE FREE END OF SAID FIRST NAMED ARM TO SWING IN A SIMILAR PLANE, THEOVERLAPPING ENDS OF SAID ARMS BEING PROVIDED WITH ENLARGED RECESSES TOACCOMMODATE A BEARING MEMBER, THREADED FASTENER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGHSAID BEARING MEMBER TO RELEASABLY HOLD THE SAME IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION,A HORIZONTAL BAR PIVOTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO THE FREE END OF THESECOND NAMED ARM ARRANGED TO SWING IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, THREADEDFASTENER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ARM AND BAR TO RELEASABLY HOLD THESAME IN AN ADJUSTED POSITION, A PAIR OF SPACED HINGED MEMBERS AFFIXED TOSAID HORIZONTAL BAR LOCATED AT POINTS ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF, A FLATRECTANGULAR MEMBER FORMING A DESK SUPPORTING SURFACE CONNECTED AT THEREAR THEREOF TO SAID HINGES, AND A PIN FOR BEING RECEIVED IN A SELECTEDPIN RECEIVING APERTURE IN SAID VERTICAL STANDARD TO SELECTIVELY POSITIONSAID ARMS OF SAID DESK SUPPORTING SURFACE IN DIFFERENT HORIZONTALPLANES, SAID PIVOTED ARMS AND FLAT RECTANGULAR MEMBER BEING REMOVABLEFROM THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL STANDARD TO PERMIT BOOK RACKS ANDTHE LIKE TO BE PLACED THEREON BENEATH SAID PIVOTED ARMS AND FLATRECTANGULAR MEMBER.